AORE Annual Report 2013 | Page 22

Dear  AORE  Supporter,   AORE  currently  has  close  to  600  members  who  employ  over  8,000  staff,  who  in  turn  serve  over  1.5  million   participants  each  year.  We  reflect  and  impact  the  needs  of  the  outdoor  recreation  and  education  profession,   and  we  want  to  do  that  better  each  year!  We,  the  Board  of  Directors,  have  heard  members  speak  through   the  years  about  establishing  sustainable  ways  for  the  AORE’s  continued  success.    We  are  writing  this  letter   to  share  with  you  the  way  to  do  just  that,  and  to  take  this  time  to  recognize  and  thank  all  of  our  Vendor   members  for  supporting  AORE.   Our  organization’s  financial  strength  relies  entirely  on  income  from  memberships  and  conferences.   Progress  rests  heavily  on  volunteer  work  efforts  and  value  from  sweat  equity  of  committee  members  and   chairs,  Board  of  Directors,  conference  presenters,  and  conference  hosts.  Through  this  model,  we  all  have   gained  by  giving,  and  many  individuals  stand  and  serve  the  AORE  tirelessly  -­‐  because  they  believe  in  the   power  of  outdoor  recreation  and  education.  AORE  needs  to  maintain  this  sense  of  volunteerism,  but  it  also   needs  to  increase  opportunities  for  growth  and  development  for  the  membership  with  independent   fundraising.   With  a  pledge  of  100%  Board  of  Directors  giving,  and  a  goal  of  raising  $5,000  in  2014  for  the  Fund  for   Student  and  Professional  Development,  we  are  asking  you  to  help  further  the  profession  of  outdoor   recreation  and  education  with  your  financial  gift.   We  would  like  to  take  this  time  to  recognize  and  thank  all  of  our  Vendor  members  for  supporting  AORE.     Vendor  support  is  critical  for  advancing  the  profession  of  outdoor  recreation  and  education.  A  special   thanks  is  extended  to  all  of  our  Vendor  members  who  participated  at  the  2013  AORE  Annual  Conference  in   College  Park,  Maryland.     We  encourage  all  of  our  members  to  consider  AORE  Vendors  when  making  purchasing  decisions.  By   considering  AORE  Vendor  Members  first,  you  can  help  advance  the  industry  by  supporting  Vendors  who   exemplify  AORE  values  and  are  committed  to  advancing  the  profession  of  outdoor  recreation  and   education.       We  wish  to  thank  you  in  advance  for  your  support.   Sincerely,   AORE  Board  of  Directors                 21